Nuno Espirito Santo set to become the highest-paid manager in Nottingham Forest HISTORY – and ex-Tottenham and Wolves boss could be confirmed as Steve Cooper’s successor today
- READ: Nottingham Forest SACK Steve Cooper after run of one win in 13 games
- Nuno Espirito Santo was at Forest on Tuesday finalising terms of his contract
- Mikel Arteta booked again, other bosses getting yellows. If you are going to eradicate these ills, KEEP DOING IT, REFS! Listen to It’s All Kicking Off
Nuno Espirito Santo was finalising a deal to become the highest-paid manager in Nottingham Forest’s history on Tuesday night after they sacked Steve Cooper.
The ex-Wolves and Tottenham boss is expected to be named the new Forest boss on Wednesday after holding talks with club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Cooper’s two-year reign, which saw Forest back in the top flight for the first time this century, ended on Tuesday after his relationship with Marinakis had become increasingly strained in recent months.
The Welshman, 44, was thought to be on a salary of around £2million a year on a contract that ran until 2025 and the compensation package is expected to be roughly the same amount.
Marinakis said: ‘We thank Steve for his dedication and commitment during his time with us, as well as the incredible connection he forged with our supporters and the city. Steve will always remain a friend of the club and will be forever welcome at the City Ground.’
Nuno Espirito Santo (left) could be confirmed as Steve Cooper’s (right) successor today
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is ready to make Santo the best-paid manager in the history of the football club, so eager is he to recruit the former Tottenham boss
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Nuno, 49, was at Forest on Tuesday night to finalise a return to English football, two years after a disastrous four-month spell at Tottenham.
He was one of the best managers in Wolves’ history from 2017-21, taking them from the bottom half of the Championship to the Europa League.
Mail Sport understands that as tensions grew over Forest’s results, communication between Cooper and Marinakis broke down almost completely.
Forest hoped another club, such as Crystal Palace, would offer Cooper a job to save them having to pay compensation.
Cooper was sacked as manager of Nottingham Forest after one win in 13 matches
City Ground insiders felt Cooper was keen to depart. They say he treated staff at all levels with respect throughout his time at the club, but that such behaviour was not always reciprocated by those at the top.
Forest’s wealth of players meant high earners did not always make the matchday squad, causing issues off the field.
Cooper is also thought to have had little say in some of Forest’s transfer business, especially a number of the deals done on deadline day.
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On the flip side, sources believe the manager identified areas to strengthen and was backed.
Cooper was extremely popular with the fans, one of whom – former England cricketer Stuart Broad – said he had brought back joy not seen since Brian Clough.
‘I’m pretty gutted,’ said Broad. ‘What he’s done for our club has been outstanding. He’s let us fans live the dream, after 23 years without being in the Premier League, and he was the guy who got our team there.
‘Rather than feeling too sad that he’s gone, we need to look back on his reign as one of the most remarkable since the Cloughie era.’
Additional reporting: Mike Keegan
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